When you find a Kenmore dishwasher leaking from bottom of the cabinet, the quickest way to the cause is to note when the water appears: while the tub fills, while it washes or while it drains. Each phase points to a different part. Water at fill time suggests the inlet valve or its hose, water during the wash suggests a pump seal or a cracked tub, and water at drain time suggests the drain hose or its connection. Shut off the water and the power before you investigate, because standing water and mains wiring are a bad mix.
How do you find where a dishwasher leak starts?
Water spreads, so the puddle at the front is rarely where the leak begins. A leak at the back of the cabinet runs along the floor and shows up at the toe kick. The technique that works is to isolate the phase in which it leaks.
- Switch off the power and close the water valve under the sink. Open the door and dry the tub, the door edge and the floor.
- Remove the lower kick panel if it comes off without tools, and dry the base with a towel. Lay a sheet of dry paper or cardboard under the front.
- Restore power and water and start a cycle. Watch the paper at three moments: when the tub is filling, a few minutes into the wash and at the first drain.
- Note when the paper gets wet. The moment of the leak narrows the cause to a short list.
If a lot of water appears, stop the cycle at once, turn the water off and call for help. A heavy leak can ruin cabinets and floors in minutes.
Is the leak at fill time?
A leak while the tub fills points to the supply side. The inlet valve is a small solenoid valve bolted to the base of the dishwasher, and it can crack or drip around its connections. The braided fill hose and the compression fitting at the shutoff valve can also loosen. Look at the hose connections with a flashlight and dry paper towel, touching each joint. A drip at the shutoff valve under the sink is an installation fault that you may be able to fix by tightening the fitting a little, but over-tightening can crack it. A valve that leaks internally or is damaged should be replaced by a technician, since it sits near mains wiring.
A valve that does not shut off completely can overfill the tub and push water out through the door. Many dishwashers have a float switch in the base that notices water and starts the drain pump, so a machine that keeps pumping out is trying to tell you something.
Is the leak during the wash?
During the wash, the pump runs at full pressure, so a weak spot shows up here. The usual suspects are:
- The pump or motor seal. The seal wears with age and lets water drip into the base. This needs a technician.
- A cracked spray arm or feed tube. Water sprays where it should not and can run out beneath the door. Look at the arms for cracks.
- A cracked or damaged tub. Rare, but it happens at corners and welds in older machines.
- Suds. Hand dish soap or too much detergent creates foam that pushes out under the door. Wipe it out, run a rinse and use only dishwasher detergent in the right amount.
If the dishwasher also leaks from the door, our guide to a Kenmore dishwasher leaking from the door covers the gasket, latch and spray arm.
Is the leak when it drains?
If the water appears when the pump empties the tub, look at the drain path. The hose runs from the pump to the sink drain or disposer, and a loose clamp, a crack or a kink lets water escape. Check that the clamp at the disposer or the tailpiece is tight and that the hose has a high loop under the countertop. A blocked air gap or a clogged disposer can also push water back and out. If the dishwasher does not drain well at all, read the 587 dishwasher not draining guide and the dishwasher installation guide for how the hose and its loop should be set up.
Does it matter who built your Kenmore dishwasher?
It does, for the parts and the layout. Kenmore dishwashers come from more than one maker, with 665 models built by Whirlpool and 587 models by Frigidaire. The base, the pump and the placement of the inlet valve differ between them, which changes where a technician looks first and which parts fit. Check the model tag on the door frame, and read Kenmore dishwasher: Whirlpool or Frigidaire built so that you quote the right prefix.
When should you call a technician?
Call if the leak comes back after you have checked the fittings and the detergent, if you see water inside the base, if the pump or valve is leaking or if the floor is already damaged. Do not keep using a dishwasher that leaks from a pump or valve. Our Kenmore dishwasher repair technicians trace the leak, test the part and fix it in one visit. We are an independent repair company, not a factory service arm, and we will tell you when a repair is not worth doing. You can book a visit with a note of when the water appears.
